Chapter 38

A crack had appeared in the defensive formation of the Immortal Trapping Array, struck by none other than Chi Xiao.

Although the damage was quickly repaired, Han Luo couldn’t pretend it didn’t happen.

This had to be a joke, right? A first-rank Immortal Trapping Array should be more than enough to withstand any attacks from Qi Refining disciples. Even someone at the seventh layer shouldn’t be able to damage it.

And yet, Chi Xiao had managed to crack it.

Which meant if she kept attacking, the defensive layer of the Immortal Trapping Array might really be shattered. Fire-type cultivators truly had terrifying sustained damage output.

This was no good.

He needed to act fast. If Chi Xiao actually broke through, his life would be in serious danger. Facing off against an enraged female berserker? That was a recipe for disaster.

Han Luo left Shen Xian’er with enough food and gave her strict instructions not to wander around. He then sealed off all of Luoxian Mountain, making sure neither she nor Xiaobai would discover Chi Xiao’s presence.

With that done, he quietly slipped away through Secret Tunnel #17.

He didn’t go looking for Auntie Hong—because no matter what, the crack in the array was real. Whether Chi Xiao left or not, the damage had already been done.

So he went to the Scripture Pavilion, looking for a solution.

Within the pavilion, Han Luo had already read every book on first-rank formations he had access to. The Immortal Trapping Array at Luoxian Mountain had already been optimized to its most refined state.

To improve it further, he’d need access to higher-level knowledge—which required ascending to the Foundation Establishment stage.

But knowing his cautious personality, that breakthrough would be a long time coming. He hadn’t even started refining his spiritual marrow yet, so breaking through was out of the question for now.

As he pondered his options, he caught sight of Jiu Li’er quietly studying formation theory in the distance.

An idea struck.

"Junior Sister Li’er, long time no see,” he greeted her with a cheerful smile.

“Senior Brother Han Luo!” Jiu Li’er was visibly delighted. Had the stars actually answered her wish?

Han Luo glanced around to make sure no one was nearby, then whispered, “Li’er, do you want to learn the next level of formation techniques?”

She froze, surprised by the question. “Surely you jest, Senior Brother. I don’t have the talent. My cultivation hasn’t even reached Foundation Establishment—I can’t access the next level.”

“Of course I know that. But you and I both study formation arts. And as you know, every formation has a flaw. The laws of heaven follow the cycle of nines—there’s always one part that escapes the system. That’s the hope left by the heavens.”

He wasn’t making this up. Formation theory was closely tied to the Dao, and every formation inevitably had a weakness. Even his own Immortal Trapping Array had one—it was just hidden extremely well.

Jiu Li’er’s freckled face lit up with excitement. “You mean... the Scripture Pavilion’s formation has a flaw? You want to exploit it so we can sneak into the next level?”

She didn’t know why, but the thought filled her with excitement—like she was doing something wickedly fun.

“Smart girl.” Han Luo gave her a thumbs-up.

“Have you already found the weak point?” she asked softly.

“Not yet. But if we put our two brilliant heads together, we’re bound to find it.”

Jiu Li’er hesitated. She had always longed to study the higher-level formation scrolls, especially since Han Luo’s influence had helped her fully grasp the first volume of the Nine Scrolls of Formation ahead of schedule. But her cultivation was still too low to access the next tier.

Still, she had her doubts. “But if we’re discovered... The sect rules say damaging the Scripture Pavilion’s formation could get us expelled.”

She didn’t want to be kicked out. Her entire goal in joining Luoxian Sect was to study the Nine Scrolls. According to her great-grandmother, if she could combine those scrolls with the Nine Li True Method, she could become the greatest formation master under heaven—and protect the Jiu Li Tribe.

Han Luo waved it off. “Expelled? No way. They’ll be thanking us instead.”

“Huh?”

“Think about it. If we help them find a flaw in the Pavilion’s formation, aren’t we saving them from future disaster? They’ll owe us a favor.”

Jiu Li’er tilted her head in thought. That... kind of made sense.

After all, if a flaw really did cause the formation to explode, the entire Scripture Pavilion could go up in flames. All the scrolls would be lost. That would be a huge loss.

“So? You in?”

“Alright... Let’s do it.”

Two formation geniuses teaming up—it worked like a charm. They started from the basics, examining materials and tracing them layer by layer. After half a month of careful analysis, they finally found a weak point.

And so, under the cover of a moonless night, the two slipped through the flaw and entered the next level.

“I’m going to study right away!” Jiu Li’er rushed forward in excitement.

“Wait,” Han Luo stopped her.

“But we don’t have much time—what if we get caught?” she asked, worried.

“Listen, silly girl,” he said. “How long would it take you to finish studying the second scroll?”

She thought about it. “With my current talent, it’d take at least three years of full-time study to fully grasp it.”

“Exactly. By that time, the Pavilion’s protectors would’ve long caught us. You won’t even finish reading the table of contents.”

“Then what do we do?”

“Relax. I have a plan. If this works, we’ll be able to study freely in the future without sneaking around.”

“You’re serious?” She still wasn’t entirely convinced, but she trusted him.

Sure enough, before long, the Enforcer Hall came to drag them away.

Inside the hall atop Luoxian Peak, Han Luo spoke to the guard. “Brother, do me a favor. Tell the Peak Lord of Leixing Peak that Han Luo has something important to discuss.”

The guard scoffed. “You think just anyone can meet the Peak Lord? Sit down and wait your turn.”

Maybe he was annoyed Han Luo had a girl with him.

“And what does it take to get a meeting with the Peak Lord?”

“You’d have to commit a huge offense. Something big and irredeemable. Then he’d want to see you personally.”

As the guard lectured him, Han Luo quietly produced a low-grade spirit stone.

The guard’s eyes lit up—but he quickly went back to his upright posture. “Bribing an enforcer is a serious crime! I’ll report you—”

Before he could finish, Han Luo pulled out two more stones.

“Just a little something for your trouble,” he said.

The guard, nicknamed Big Ox, hesitated. Sensing the cue, Jiu Li’er joined in sweetly, “Senior Brother, my great-grandmother always says fellow disciples are like family—we should help each other out. This isn’t bribery, you’re being too serious.”

Han Luo slipped the three stones into his hand.

Big Ox glanced between the two of them, then pocketed the bribe. “Alright, alright, I’ll go tell the Peak Lord. But don’t even think about running. I’ve got eyes like an eagle—I’ll hunt you down to the ends of the earth!”

As Big Ox left, Han Luo turned to Jiu Li’er and gave her a thumbs-up.

Not bad. Only met twice and she already understood the art of persuasion. She was a good student.

“Hehe…” Jiu Li’er giggled proudly.

“But Senior Brother, spirit stones are precious. Was it really worth it?”

“Do you think I’d waste my spirit stones?” Han Luo smirked. “Don’t worry. He’ll be useful to us later.”

Luoxian Peak oversaw all internal affairs of the sect—guard patrols, intel gathering, mission postings. Having someone inside meant access to valuable information.

He’d already recorded the bribe using a memory crystal. If Big Ox betrayed him, he could have him kicked out of the sect in minutes.

Now that he had something on him, Big Ox was basically a new informant.

Something about the inner workings of Luoxian Sect didn’t sit right with him. It never hurt to be extra cautious.

As expected, they didn’t have to wait long—Peak Lord Leixing arrived soon after.